Home  5  Books  5  Magazines  5  News  5  GreenPro  5  HelpDesk  5  Your Cart  5  Register  5  Green Living Forum
Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories



green Building Press Book offers




Zurich Connect Home Insurance

Vanilla 1.0.3 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome to new Forum Visitors
 Join the forum now and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on Green Building Press publications: Apply now.




General: use of sand as an internal screed?

Bottom of Page

1 to 7 of 7

  1.  
  1.  
    Hi. Just thinking about laying underfloor heating on a college project, but wanted to avoid concrete for a screed on a timber cassette floor. BUT I still want to keep the thermal mass that it could bring (I'm thinking of a stone floor above the screed).

    I see that sand is used as an external screed, but has anyone come across its use internally? I think it might provide some good sound insulation too, and allow easier access to pipes should there be any problems.

    I've googled this, but nothing is jumping out at me (wrong search terms?).

    Any thoughts as to why I shouldn't do this - assuming I get all the joints properly sealed..?

    Cheers
    Rebound
    •  
      CommentAuthorrichy
    • CommentTimeNov 8th 2008
     
    Sand was traditionally used. Sometimes over cellars, they put sand on rough sawn planks fixed to joists and then stone flags on top. Sand can be compacted using a wacker plate.
  3.  
    nothing like reinventing the wheel

    thanks richy!
    •  
      CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeNov 8th 2008
     
    What about a Givlon (can't spell it) screed.

    The thing you need to look out for is deflection in the timber sub floor causing cracking of screed. Having said that, if it were just compacted sand, that should move quite nicely.

    Check out "Screedflor dB" http://www.screedflo.co.uk/db/index.html

    and

    "Finnforest SoundBar" http://www.finnforest.co.uk/default.asp?path=200;256;13071

    They use a givlon type screed as well as a resilient layer to give separating floor performance, and have thermal mass. The screedflo system can include underfloor heating as well.

    Timber
    • CommentAuthorBowman
    • CommentTimeNov 8th 2008
     
    I tried it! Never, ever, again.

    Fine if you can get the floor down straight away (same day), if not you'll have sand everywhere except where you want it.
  6.  
    Thanks too Timber. I've taken a look at the systems, and they still rely on a setting screed as far as I can see - which I assume bonds. I wasn't completely explicit in the initial post - as I was just after experience - but I'm looking to see how far I can get to a Cradle to Cradle type building and I liked the idea of simply being able to sweep the screed away when I'm done with it.

    thanks for taking the time to reply
    rebound
    •  
      CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeNov 8th 2008
     
    rebound - bonds? what as in sets? Yes they do set.

    Breaking the screed out wouldn't be too hard though. A pick axe and a few wheel barrows would sort it ;)

1 to 7 of 7

  1.  
Add your comments

    Username Password
  • Format comments as
 
Back to Discussions Top of Page
   
The Ecobuilding Buzz
Site Map    |   Home    |   View Cart    |   Pressroom   |   Business   |   Links   
Logout    

© Green Building Press